TOWARDS A CRISIS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 April 1934, Page 5

TOWARDS A CRISIS

EVENTS IN FREE STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS (United Proas Association —By Electrio Teleeraph—Copyright) (“Times'’ Cables) (Received 10th April, 11.0 a.m.) DUBLIN. 9th April. Apparently events in the Free State are moving towards a crisis'. Mr de Valera, after many postponements, lias decided finally to hold the local government, elections on 25th June, enabling a testing of the electorate as it is polled on the register of ratepayers, excluding large numbers of the Government’s youthful supporters, and therefore an accurate index of the more responsible section of the community.

The Cosgraveite organisation is definitely challenging Mr de Valera’s intention to capture the local authorities for party purposes.

OPPOSITION TO DUFFY

ATTEMPT TO PREVENT MEETING

LONDON, Bth April

Anti-O’Duffyites tore up the rails at two stations on the Tullamore line in the morning to prevent supporters attending liis meeting, and cut telephone wires.

General O’DuJTy declared that Mr de Valera had become the toreador of Irish polities. He wanted to bait John Bull in order to appeal to the people with the cry: “Don’t fling me to the British!”

RAID ON ARMS STORE

RIFLES AND AMMUNITION STOLEN

LONDON, Bth April

Half a dozen men with blackened faces pounced on Robert Russell, nightwatchman at the Braidwater spinning mills at Ballymena, while lie was stoking the fire after midnight. They hound and gagged him ,smashed the door of the local constabulary’s arms store, took seventeen rifles, 1000 rounds of rifle and 3,000 rounds of revolver ammunition and many revolvers, anil decamped in a motor car. Russell rolled round the yard for an hour endeavouring to loosen his bonds, and eventually drew a knife from his pocket and cut them. He rushed to the engine room and blew the alarm siren, turning out the populace and the police.

The raiders have not been traced,

DISPUTES WITH BRITAIN

EFFORTS AT SETTLEMENT

(Received 10th April, 1.25 p.in.)

LONDON. 9th April.

Ir: the House of Commons Mr Thomas, Dominions Secretary in reply to questions, said the Government was willing to resume discussions with the Irish Free State with a view to the settlement of all outstanding questions, but there must first be acceptance of a basis for discussions. Britain had made every effort to secure an impartial discussion of the dispute, but the Free State had not accepted. Mr Logan (Labour): “Is it beyond tho realms of possibility to agree on a tribunal?” 1

Mr Thomas: Land annuities are unfortunately only part of the dispute There is still the treaty, for which many Irishmen gave their lives and which we desire to see observed.” Lt.-Col. Moore (Conservative): “Has Mr de Valera given any indication or desire to re-open discussions’ ’ Mr Thomas: “None whatever.”